Leading to Reading

	Leading to Reading is a community project of Poughkeepsie AAUW, Inc. Started in 2004, partnerships were formed with the Poughkeepsie Family Development Day Care Center, Beacon Even Start, the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, Catharine Street Community Center, Tubman Terrace After-School Program, Astor Head Start, Hudson River Housing, and the United Way of Dutchess County. The goal was to enhance their literacy programs by providing books, reading kits, and other services. Photo credits: Mary Coiteux
The project has provided books and classroom materials to meet the needs of each particular agency. Some of the activities included: Developing reading kits with books, tips for parents, simple activities, and craft materials Providing books and take-home kits for children from low- and moderate-income families Building bookcases, furnishing comfortable reading corners, and enlarging classroom and cottage libraries Giving "Fuzzy Friend" kits including books and a stuffed animal to children who were removed from their home in emergency situations Cleaning and sorting a community room so reading programs could be held Celebrating special events with book giveaways Providing bilingual kits as part of a family literacy initiative Wrapping gifts for holiday parties Including books in the United Way of Dutchess County "Born Learning" kits offered to all new parents
	The project has been greatly enhanced through generous community support. Recent sponsors include: Adams Fairacre Farms: Sturdy paper bags were donated to allow us to sort and distribute our reading kits. 4Imprint.com: Embossed string bags were donated to make "Fuzzy Friend" kits for children in the emergency shelter at The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie. Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union: A grant will provide literacy materials for Astor Pre-School programs in the Eastern part of Dutchess County. Lisa Libraries: Ongoing donations of hundreds of new books have allowed us to provide numerous local agencies with a book kit for each child. Local church: Funds were donated to buy "big books" for group reading, craft materials for a classroom book project, and additional books for a giveaway to each child.
Grants were obtained from Lisa Libraries, AAUW Educational Foundation, and Books for Kids to provide new books. Over 3,000 books have been distributed, along with 150 "Fuzzy Friend" kits and a variety of materials for each of the centers. The committee continually expands the project to enhance early literacy programs throughout Dutchess County.